INF/MSME/CN/24  
 
22 November 2023  
(23-7868) Page: 1/3 
  Original: English  
 
 
INFORMAL WORKING GROUP ON MSMES  
CONVENING NOTICE  
The following convening notice, dated 22 November  2023, is being circulated at the request of the 
Coordinator of the Informal Working Group on MSMEs , Ambassador Matthew Wilson (Barbados) . 
 
_______________  
 
 
The Informal Working Group on MSMEs will hold its next regular meeting in hybrid mode and through 
the Interprefy platform on Thursday  7 December  2023 , starting at 10:00  (half-day meeting).  
A technical guide summarizing logist ical details for participation in Interprefy meetings will be made 
available on the Members' interactive calendar of meetings, and can also be found at: 
WTO Interprefy Delegate Guide . 
The following items, based on the work program adopted by the Group at its March 2023 meeting, 
are proposed for the agenda:  
1  IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECEMBER 2020 MSME PACKAGE  
Members will be invited to share updates on actions taken to implement the December 2020 MSME 
package ( INF/MSME/4/Rev.2 ). In particular, Members will be invited to report on:  
 
• Inclusion of MSME information in TPRs – Members having undergone a Trade Policy Review 
since our July 2023 meeting will be invited to report on their inclusion of MSME information in 
their TPRs  (Annex 1 of INF/MSME/4/Rev.2 ); 
• Actions taken to support the Global Trade Helpdesk (Annex 2) ; 
• Trade facilitation measures for MSMEs (Annex 3) ; 
• Inclusion of MSMEs in the development of trade regulations to minimize regulatory burden 
(Annex 4) ; 
• Implementation of the 2019 IDB Decision (Annex 5) ; 
• Actions taken to facilitate MSME access to finance, incl uding trade finance, and cross -border 
payments (Annex 6).  
2  THEMATIC DISCUSSIONS  
Under this p illar of the 2023 MSME work program, the MSME Group continues exploring issues of 
particular interest to MSME trade with a view, where relevant, to developing policy  guidance.  
 INF/MSME/CN/24  
 
- 2 - 
 
  2.1  MSME Provisions in Regional Trade Agreements – Presentation of Papers Received  
Following the March 2023 call for papers to fill the information gap on the impacts of MSME -specific 
language in Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs), the authors of the  papers received will present their 
key findings to the Group.  
 
A. Presentation of papers received from the Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the  
WTO  
The Philippines Mission provided two submissions in response to the MSME Group's call for papers 
circulated in document INF/MSME/W/4 8. The first, titled "The Impact of FTA Import Utilization on 
Firm Performance: An Assessment of Philippine Manufacturing MSMEs," assesses how using RTAs 
affects Filipino MSME manufacturing performance. The second, title d "Survey on 
MSME/MSME -related Provisions in APEC Economies' FTAs/FTAs," is a 2019 APEC paper documenting, 
reviewing and summarizing MSME -related provisions in APEC RTAs.  
 
B. Presentation of abstract received from Wafa Aidi and Stephen Karingi, United Nati ons 
Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)  
An abstract titled "What is the positioning of SMEs in the African Continental Free Trade Area 
(AfCFTA): Key findings based on the AfCFTA Country Business Index," was provided by Wafa Aidi 
and Stephen Karingi from the United Nations Economic Commission for  Africa (UNECA) (see 
document INF/MSME/W/48 ). The AfCFTA country business index (ACBI) is a key tool for businesses 
to express their trade challenges  related to the AfCFTA and informs reviewers of the barriers 
impeding effective implementation. Wafa Ai di will join the meeting to provide an overview of this 
work and findings.  
 
2.2  MSMEs and cooperatives  
Chile will give a presentation on  "Challenges and  Opportunities of MSMEs and Cooperatives in 
International Trade". 
 
3  STRENGTHENING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND OTHER 
STAKEHOLDERS  
3.1  Presentation on the ITC 2023 SME Competitiveness Outlook  
Valentina Rollo from the International Trade Centre (ITC) will provide an overview of the 2023 SME 
Competitiveness Outlook titled Small Business in Fragility, fr om Survival to Growth . The report 
assesses the impact of conflict and fragility on business performance. It argues that direct support 
to firms is helpful and must be complemented by reforms to promote peace and stability and improve 
the business environme nt. 
 
3.2  Presentation on the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO)  
The DCO works to narrow the digital divide and create opportunities for businesses of all sizes to 
prosper in a cross -border and sustainable digital economy. DCO has a number of key initiative s to 
support entrepreneurship and advance digital inclusion through MSME support such as a Center of 
Excellence and STRIDE, an initiative to facilitate the cross -border expansion of small - and medium -
sized enterprises and innovation driven enterprises (IDE s) through a digital entrepreneurial 
ecosystem.  
 
3.3  MSME Spotlight  
Tamara Gibson, Managing Director and Chief Chandler at Native Caribbean, a candle maker with 
signature scents from Barbados such as East Coast Road or Tobacco & Sugar Cane, will join the 
MSME Group to share her trade experience; challenges she has faced as a small, Barbados -based 
business to export abroad; and thoughts on how the trade experience could be improved.  
 INF/MSME/CN/24  
 
- 3 - 
 
  4  BRIEFINGS ON MSME -RELATED DISCUSSIONS IN OTHER WTO BODIES  
Update from the Committee on Government Procurement and its Secretariat on recent MSME -related 
work.  
 
5  MC13 PLANNING  
At the March 2023 meeting of the Group, several concrete deliverables were proposed under pillar 2 
of the MSME work program, including Handbooks compiling t he MSME and Policymaker Guides of 
the Trade4MSMEs platform and a compendium  of good practices related to MSME integration in 
national  Authorized Economic Operators (AEO) programs  (INF/MSME/W/47 ). In July 2023 a joint 
compendium on Access to Finance for  Women -let MSMEs ( INF/MSME/W/46  & INF/TGE/W/7 ) was 
also proposed. In October 2023 the Coordinator also provided a draft Report for the Group's review 
(INF/MSME/W/45 ). The Group will be provided with an update on these different outputs and discuss 
plans for MC13.  
 
6  ANNUAL REPORT  
The draft Annual Report of the MSME Group was circulated under the reference number 
INF/MSME/W/49 . Members will have  the opportunity to share their comments, if any,  on the draft 
Report at the meeting. The draft Report will be further revised after the December session to 
incorporate discussions held at the meeting. Members will be invited to adopt the revised draft ad 
referendum  after the meeting.  
 
7  OTHER BUSINESS  
__________